Consumer Reports: Heidi Klum strollers have a safety problem

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An important Consumer Reports safety alert: A stroller travel system marketed by Heidi Klum, star of Project Runway and America's Got Talent, has a safety issue. It is carried exclusively at Babies "R" Us.

Travel systems include a stroller and a detachable infant car seat. Consumer Reports tested the $220 Truly Scrumptious Travel System by Heidi Klum as a part of its regular stroller testing and found a problem with the stroller harness.

Testers applied the amount of tension the harness should be able to withstand, based on the voluntary industry safety standard. The right side of the harness buckle popped open ten out of 15 times in Consumer Reports tests. Consumer Reports tested three different samples of Klum's travel systems and found the same problem with each.

In a second test that simulates a stroller hitting a curb, a 50-pound weight stands in for the heaviest child the stroller is rated to carry. In that test the strollers' buckles released 7 out of 15 times. It's the only stroller with this problem in more than 100 strollers in Consumer Reports' ratings.

Although Consumer Reports does not know of any injuries caused by this stroller, the danger is that a child can fall out of the stroller and get hurt if the harness fails. Consumer Reports has designated the Truly Scrumptious travel system model TR252BQR by Heidi Klum a Don't Buy: Safety Risk.

Consumer Reports has notified the maker of the Truly Scrumptious travel system, the Dorel Juvenile Group, which says it disagrees with Consumer Reports' conclusions based on its own internal and outside tests. The company says it has had no complaints about the buckle releasing.

The car seat included in this travel system has its own harness that passed Consumer Reports' safety tests. So if you have it, you can continue to use the car seat either in the stroller or in your car. But Consumer Reports urges parents not to use the stroller on its own and to consider asking Babies "R" Us for a refund.

If you are looking for a travel system Consumer Reports recommends the Chicco Cortina KeyFit 30 for $330.